8/6/2019 We Cannot Escape History (3 of 3)
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From the left to the right, Senator Hiram Rhodes Revels , from
Mississippi and anordained minister. Next was Representative
Benjamin Turner , of Alabama. Turner was aslave during the Civil
War but five (5) years afterward was a wealthy businessman.
Third
and standing up was Representative Robert De Large of South
Carolina. De Large wasborn a slave but three (3) years afterward
was chairing the Republican Party's Platform
Committee. Fourth and sitting was Representative Josiah Walls of
Florida, a slave duringthe Civil War and forced to fight for the
Confederacy. In 1862 Walls was captured by the
Union army and voluntarily joined. In 1862 he rose to rank of
corporal. Fifth and standing
was Representative Jefferson Franklin Long of Georgia. Born a
slave, but was self educated and built a thriving business. Long
became the first Black American to deliver a
congressional speech in the U.S. House. Sixth and sitting was
Representative Joseph
Hayne Rainey of South Carolina. Born a slave, but served as
Speaker of the U.S. Houseand was in Congress longer than any other
Black American from that era. Seventh and
sitting was Representative Robert Brown Elliott also of South
Carolina. Well educatedand could read Spanish, French, and Latin.
Elliott led the passage of the Civil Rights bills
against vehement opposition from the Democrats and later became
Speaker of the House
in the State legislature. 1
True or False. Your Answer Goes Here: __________
Statement #2
Above is a picture of the 1872 print by Currier and Ives,
depicting the firstseven (7) Black Americans elected to the U.S.
Congress. All seven (7) wereRepublicans . 2
True or False. Your Answer Goes Here: __________
We Cannot Escape History 3
"History is the only laboratory we have in which to test the
consequences of thought." tienne Gilson
8/6/2019 We Cannot Escape History (3 of 3)
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Hon. Hiram Rhodes Revels
An 1870 Cleveland Newspaper documented theattempt by Democrats
to prevent Hiram RhodesRevels from taking his seat . 4 Here is a
quote fromthat newspaper: "[T]he business relative to
thecredentials of Mr. Revels as Senator from Mississippi
was taken up. The debate which followed assumed a wide range of
politicalquestions.
At 4:40 o'clock, a vote was taken and upon the motionof Mr.
Stockton [a Democratic Senator from NewJersey] to refer the
credentials of Mr. Revels to the
judiciary committee." So what happened? The votewas forty-eight
(48) to eight (8) in favor of Mr. Revels.All forty-eight (48)
Republicans said that Mr.Revels had the right credentials to serve
in theSenate . All eight (8) Democrats said he did not .
After a Senate Committee investigation, Mr. Revels'credentials
were easily established and he became a proud member of theU.S.
Senate from February 23rd, 1870 to March 3, 1871. 5
Hmmmmmm
Mr. Revels' credentials could easily be established
Brothers, we really need to talk.
Reference(s):1. From an original in David Barton's collection,
"The First Colored Senators and Representatives"; see also
Hughes,Meltzer, and Lincoln, A Pictorial History of Black
Americans, p. 208.2. Black Americans in Congress, Historical Data,
41st Congress, 1869-1871 ( http://bit.ly/bU8MUO ) and 42nd
Congress,1871-1873 ( http://bit.ly/a1xEkb ).3. Abraham Lincoln in
Annual Message to Congress, Dec. 1, 1862.4. The Cleveland Leader,
February 26th, 1870, Vol. XXIV, No.4.5. Barton, David, "American
History in Black & White", published by Wallbuilders Press,
Aledo, Texas, pp. 62-63.
NOTE: The answers in this test are all: True.
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